With storms likely to occur more often in future, the authorities have started equipping MRT stations with flood barriers.

The first six have been retrofitted at a cost of S$2.2mil (RM5.5mil), with barriers similar to those used in Hong Kong's MTR stations. Design works for another 11 stations are ongoing, said a Land Transport Authority (LTA) spokesman.

The first batch of stations – Tan-jong Pagar, Orchard, Raffles Place, City Hall, Novena and Little India – were selected as they are more vulnerable to flooding, said SMRT director for media and marketing communications Alina Boey.

In its Code of Practice on surface water drainage, national water agency PUB states that the underground rapid transit system must be "stringently protected against flood risks".

Aside from minimising the storm catchments of underground MRT stations, it said integrated watertight barriers at least 1m above flood and ground levels should be used to protect underground stations and tunnels.

MRT stations already have elevated entrances to guard against flooding, but the barriers add another layer of protection.

While no MRT station has ever been flooded, Singapore has been seeing more flash floods over the past few years, caused by heavy, intense bouts of rainfall.

The National Environment Agency said last month that very heavy storms in Singapore are likely to become more frequent and intense if global temperatures rise.

The flood barriers at the six stations range from 1m to 1.5m in height, and have been tested to ensure they are watertight. It takes two people up to 15 minutes to install them.

Smaller, swing-type barriers have been installed at station plant rooms that house equipment such as condenser units, and vent shafts, glass panels and other openings have also been sealed. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Scientists have found that the difference between life and death for some cancer cells hinges on a tiny molecular change – which could one day be harnessed to drive cancer cells to suicide.

Researchers from Oxford Uni­ver­sity, the University of Texas, and the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) at the Agency for Science, Tech­­nology and Research (A*Star), found that E2F, a protein which helps control cell growth, can be affected by a process called methylation, where a cluster of carbon and hydrogen atoms latches on to the outside of a gene and makes it harder or easier for that gene to be active.

Depending on where E2F is methylated, it can either cause cells to die off or to proliferate, with what researchers termed "an exquisite level of precision".

Professor Nick La Thangue of the department of oncology at Oxford University, who supervised the project explained: "It's like there's an angel and a devil competing to get on each shoulder of the protein. Which one gets the upper hand is able to whisper in the ear of the protein and tell it what it should do. With the molecular flag on one shoulder, E2F goes into cell kill mode. With the flag on the other, it goes into cell growth mode."

The team suggested that this mechanism could be used for new cancer treatments to push cancer cells to die off.

A*STAR chief scientist Sir David Lane said: "The detailed study of protein modifications is proving to be a very fertile area for the discovery of effective new targets for cancer drug discovery." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Ceramic is famously strong, yet brittle. No one can bend a ceramic bowl like one might a metal spoon or a disposable plastic cup – it would simply crack.

But Singaporean researchers are challenging this notion and seeing surprising results.

Scientists at Nanyang Techno­logical University's Temasek Labo­ratories, which specialises in defence science research, have found a way to make ceramic flexible.

This could pave the way for strong yet pliable ceramic for use in body or even vehicular armour.

Ceramic is stronger than many metals and able to withstand much higher temperatures of up to 1,200 deg C.

Working with ceramic filaments with a thickness of just a micrometre – one millionth of a metre –Temasek Laboratories director Gan Chee Lip succeeded in bending them repeatedly by up to 8% of their size.

He did so by making each crystal grain in the ceramic as wide as the filament, reducing the number of boundaries between grains where cracks usually occur.

Professor Gan and his team, who worked with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Techno­logy in the United States for more than a year, published their findings last month in the leading scientific journal, Science.

The filaments also showed "shape memory", meaning they could return to their original shapes once heated.

"Our focus now is to really see whether what we have demonstrated can be extended to larger sized materials," said Prof Gan.

TIAO fei ji (literally translated as "jump the plane") is a popular term in the 1980s and 1990s to describe illegal immigrants and workers. Back then, Japan and Taiwan were the popular choices for this activity. 988 takes a look at the story behind it.

Morning Up VIP
(Wed-Fri, 9am-10am)

In the hot seat this week is prominent Hong Kong broadcasting personality Ho Lai Chuen. With over 30 years of experience in production and broadcasting, Ho is responsible for the success of many TV variety shows and fundraising galas such as Super Trio Enjoy Yourself Tonight and TVB Awards Ceremony. Ho, who currently manages NowTV, reckons variety shows on TV these days lack creativity and are heavily dependent on celebrities' pull factor.

Music Gets Crazy
(Mon-Fri, 1pm-3pm)

Jay Chou's BFF, Vincent Fang Wen Shan, is not just a lyricist. The award-winning songwriter is now a film director. 988 has tickets to the premiere of his directorial debut Rhythm Of The Rain. Stay tuned to win tickets to the movie where you can also meet the cast.

Go, Go Weekend – He & She
(Sat, 8am-9am)

Do you know there are only three ways to thaw your food safely? Leaving your food out to thaw is unsafe and can cause illness. Meanwhile, do you know music has the amazing potential to alter an individual's state of consciousness and boost creative energy? Curious to know more? Stay tuned to 988.

Versatile actor James Spader relishes his role as the master crook in TV's brand new crime drama, The Blacklist.

IF the opening sequence of the pilot episode of The Blacklist is anything to go by, this crime thriller may actually live up to the promotional hype about it being this season's "best new drama".

In the scene, Raymond "Red" Reddington (James Spader) — one of America's most wanted crooks — strolls into Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters, identifies himself to the officer at the front desk, turns around and walks towards the FBI crest on the floor in the middle of the foyer. He then removes his coat and his hat, kneels down with his hands clasped behind his head and gives himself up.

Red clearly isn't a criminal at the end of his tether. Oh, no. He's turned himself in but it's obvious he is still calling the shots.

The former Navy officer who betrayed his country to build a business brokering deals for international criminals quickly proffers a deal with the FBI assistant director for counterterrorism, Harold Cooper (Harry Lennix): he has information on Ranko Zamani, a terrorist long thought to be dead, with a revenge plot against Washington, DC. He will release this information and secure Zamani's capture as long as he works with one federal agent: Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), a rookie who hasn't even clocked in for her first day at work as a profiler.

Why would a man so powerful, who has eluded capture for 20 years, turn himself in with his only demand being that he works with a seemingly clueless newbie? Who is she to him? What are the dynamics at play here?

It is this mystery surrounding the character that drew Spader to the role.

"The script for the pilot was so mysterious and enigmatic ... there was a lot of freedom in terms of what I was allowed to do with the character. You don't really learn a lot about this man's past from the pilot script alone and frankly we're now shooting Episode Five and I still don't know much about him.

"He just seems to be someone who is really comfortable in the extreme, very dangerous and dire circumstances. He seems comfortable no matter what comes his way. He seems comfortable with surprise ... in fact, he relishes it. He takes great delight in the perilous journey that he is on," says the 53-year-old in a recent telephone interview with Asian media.

And what a job Spader does.

As intriguing as the story may be, the real pull of the show (and the opening scene) is clearly Spader. In the less-than-two-minute opener, Spader manages to make Red a compelling villain (or anti-hero – we've yet to ascertain which) – mysterious, dangerous, eccentric, charming and revolting all at once. And stylish too.

In his 30-plus-year acting career, the charismatic actor has built an impressive resume which has seen him go from a preppy bad boy in popular teen flick Pretty In Pink to a drug dealer in Less Than Zero, a sexual voyeur in Steven Soderbergh's Sex, Lies And Videotape to a sadomasochistic lawyer in the indie movie Secretary. Most recently, Spader was in Steven Spielberg's period film Lincoln where he played W.N. Bilbo, a political lobbyist for the president.

And his next role is as the villain Ultron in Marvel's superhero flick The Avengers: Age Of Ultron. On television, Spader is best known for his role as eccentric, quick-witted but ethically ambiguous lawyer Alan Shore on the hugely popular legal drama Boston Legal.

Clear-cut roles are clearly not what Spader goes for.

"I like to look for a real dichotomy in a character. Characters that are difficult to pigeonhole and have a great deal of conflict in their life and in their temperament and this guy's (Red) definitely has that. He is a very bad guy but he seems to have a plan afoot that might turn out to be righteous.

"There is a strange honesty and truth about him even though he lives in this nefarious world. And there seems to be this honesty about him when he is dealing with Elizabeth Keen and I am intrigued by that relationship and the dichotomy of that relationship with the rest of his life," he explains.

In the pilot (which airs tonight on AXN), Red successfully guides the federal agents to the capture of Zamani. Apart from demanding to work only with Agent Keen, Red talks his way out of being locked away in a cell. Instead, he is housed in a swanky five-star hotel from which he easily slips out to wander the city and carry on his "business" – yes, the Feds aren't exactly made out to look too smart in the show!

At the very end of the episode, Red reveals "the blacklist" – a roll-call of top crooks (the authorities don't even know some of them exist) he will help them capture, also on his terms.

From here on in, The Blacklist becomes a procedural, with each episode witnessing the capture of a different bad guy and the overarching storyline about Red and his relationship with Keen.

Spader says: "I like the fact that the series stands alone from week to week ... but ultimately the episodes are all tied together by this sort of greater, serialised story that is unfolding. This story has to do with the relationships of the different players in the piece over a longer term. That intrigued me. I like the fact that the show has the opportunity to incrementally let you discover the secrets and the nature of the relationships of the people and their lives," he says.

On the telephone, Spader is pleasant and enthusiastic as he talks about his character despite the fact that he's been doing a slew of publicity interviews over the past few months to promote the series. He deliberates carefully on each question and his answers are well thought-out.

When asked for clues about the relationship between his character and Keen, Spader reveals that his knowledge about the exact nature of their relationship and their individual characters is also very limited. And that's the way he likes it.

"The story is unfolding as we are go along. I do have a sense of what their relationship is but how that is going to unfold and how we are going to make these discoveries as we go further ... that I don't know.

"I do know that their lives are wrapped up with each other's and there are things Elizabeth Keen will learn about her life and how it relates to him. I want to be able to have only as much information as I need to do the performance for each episode but beyond that, I expect to be surprised along the way.

"That's the fun of doing a television series in the same way that it's the fun of watching a television series. To be surprised from week to week as the scripts arrive. I am still doing the same thing as I did as a kid. I am out there playing pretend and one of the fun things when you're a kid playing pretend is that the story changes in seconds and the story line can go veering off and come right back again. Television is like that," he says.

It's hard to believe but The Blacklist is Spader's first foray in the crime/thriller genre.

To prepare for the role, Spader read ... the newspapers.

"Most of my preparation was (having) long conversations with the director (Jon Bokenkamp) and having a sense of that world of international crime just by reading the papers and non-fiction books about the subject. I mean, the conception of the character is in the script and the rest is in the imagination.

"Imagination feeds behaviour and I think allowing my imagination to enter that world and explore it for a while is what it is. Obviously I am not going out and conducting international criminal activity as part of my research so I just read, think and talk about it and get at it from any direction I can from the confines of my living room," he says with a laugh.

Are you bored with all the blockbuster movies on television? Getting sick of the same old run-of-the-mill Hollywood fare? Would you rather watch artistic and thought-provoking films?

Now you can with Astro's latest movie channel, A-List.

For a monthly subscription of RM15, Astro customers will get to watch eight critically-acclaimed titles per month.

"More cinemagoers are enthusiasts of international cinema and are looking for movies with depth, thought-provoking themes and distinctive stories – woven together in cinematic form. Astro is committed to serving this growing segment of customers who appreciate sophisticated content with our A-List channel," said Astro's chief operating officer Henry Tan.

Customers can also purchase the films a la carte for RM8 per title. However, the film will only be available for 48 hours.

To kick-start the channel, A-List will showcase titles such as National Security (which was screened at the recent Busan International Film Festival's Gala Presentation), Berlin–7 (which won several awards at the 31st Fajr International Film Festival this year), The Secret In Their Eyes (Best Foreign Film at the 2010 Academy Awards), I, Anna, The Moonlight In Jilin, Mr.Morgan's Last Love, How To Use Guys With Secret Tips and When A Wolf Falls In Love With A Sheep. – Dinesh Kumar Maganathan

n For more details, visit www.astro.com/A-List, or call 1-300-823-838.

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THE country's very own green film festival is back for the sixth time this year and will feature a myriad of international and local award-winning environment-themed films.

Touted as one of the biggest environmental film festivals in Malaysia, this year's Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) will be held at MAP Publika, Solaris Dutamas, from Oct 11 to 13.

In its previous instalments, the festival – a project initiated by non-profit organisation EcoKnights – has reached out to over 46,000 Malaysians through its film screenings at selected venues all over the peninsular.

When it first kicked off, the festival was intended as a tool to build a nation of ecologically-conscious businesses, individuals and communities through on-ground activities and film screenings on critical environmental issues. These days though, KLEFF has elevated to greater heights thanks to the extensive support from the community.

"What started as a small project to challenge Malaysians to document environmental issues and concerns in the country has evolved to an international platform where Malaysians and filmmakers combine forces to champion environmental concerns," says festival director Yasmin Rasyid.

Throughout the years, the KLEFF has managed to cultivate an audience that is more conscious about the environmental issues surrounding them. Yasmin commented that she's witnessed a transition of mindsets in how Malaysians view their immediate environment.

"We have seen an insurgence of a very young and collective movement of environmentalists. For once, the KLEFF audience now wants to know what they can do immediately as remedy to the current desecrated state of environment," she says.

Throughout the festival period this year, six official selections, two feature films, 12 documentaries, 12 short films, eight animations and three public service announcements (PSA) representing over 22 countries will be screened.

"This year's programme offers unique insights into the planet's challenges in dealing with intensive man-made activities. The films will offer festival-goers new experiences, both in the subject matter, and the way the filmmakers tell their stories," says Yasmin.

The festival will be honouring the films in eight categories, namely Best Film, Best International Documentary, Best Malaysian Documentary, Best International Short Film, Best Malaysian Short Film, Best Animation, Best PSA and Jury Award.

One of the official selection films to be screened is A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle For A Living Planet. Written and directed by Mark Kitchell, the film is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement spanning 50 years from conservation to climate change.

Another notable film is Pandora's Promise, a production by Academy Award-nominated director Robert Stone on the subject of nuclear power.

An audience favourite at the Sundance Film Festival, Pandora's Promise poses the question on whether the technology we fear the most could save our planet from a climate catastrophe. While film screenings make up the gist of the festival, it also serves as a platform for the creative and gifted to showcase their artistic contribution to the environment.

The three-day event will also feature musical performances by local artistes, an eco-fashion show, environment-themed community workshops, talks and forums as well as an exhibition at the Boulevard, Publika.

THE British actor is reportedly in talks to star in the biopic of the Queen frontman, according to Latino Review.

Following Sacha Baron Cohen's departure from the project last summer, producers on the Freddie Mercury biopic continue their search for a new leading man. A rumour last month suggested that Daniel Radcliffe would portray the rock star, who died in 1991, but speculation was quickly cut short by Radcliffe himself.

Dominic Cooper is the latest name to enter the rumour mill. Propelled to fame by Mamma Mia!, the actor is better known today for his portrayal of Iron Man's father in Captain America.

No official reports have confirmed his involvement in the Freddie Mercury project for the time being, but rumours continue to swirl. If he is tapped for the role, producers will need approval of this casting choice from the surviving members of Queen. – AFP Relaxnews

Law & Order star to be part of international cast for film on the Brazilian football legend.

THE American actor who portrayed Detective Robert Goren for a decade on Law & Order: Criminal Intent has landed a role in the forthcoming film on the famous Brazilian soccer player.

The biopic will focus on the legendary footballer's formative years, leading up to his first World Cup in Sweden in 1958, when the athlete was just 17.

Vincent D'Onofrio will portray Vincente Feola, the coach who led the Brazilian team to its first World Cup.

The cast of the feature is nearly as international as the iconic athlete's fan base. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro (Jane Got A Gun) will take on an as-yet-unspecified role, while Mexican star Diego Boneta (Rock Forever) will play one of the main rivals faced by Pele in his early career. Colm Meaney, hailing from Ireland, will portray George Raynor, manager of the 1958 World Cup team, and Brazilian singer Seu Jorge will play the title character's father.

Pele, meanwhile, will be played by two young newcomers: Kevin de Paula – as Pele from ages 13 to 17 – and Leonardo Lima Carvalho as the 10-year-old future champion.

The film dedicated to the life story of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname, Pele, will be directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist, who also authored the screenplay.

Shooting is slated to begin in Brazil, and the film is expected to premiere in the summer of 2014, when Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup. – AFP Relaxnews

DALLAS (Reuters) - A U.S. central banker known for his criticism of Washington politics warned on Monday that the standoff in the U.S. Congress that has shut down the federal government could drive the country to the edge of defaulting on its sovereign debt.

The United States will run dangerously low on cash if lawmakers do not raise the federal borrowing cap by October 17, and a default could follow within a week.

"I deeply hope and I don't think we'll default, but it will come down to the wire," Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said in a forum at Southern Methodist University in Texas. "It's an embarrassment for my country."

The federal government shut down most of its operations and idled all but its most essential workers on October 1 after congressional Republicans made defunding or delaying President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law a condition of approving a budget for this fiscal year.

BEIJING/TOKYO (Reuters) - China and Japan, the United States' biggest creditors, are increasingly worried the U.S. government shutdown and standoff over the debt ceiling could wreak havoc on their trillions of dollars of investments in U.S. Treasury bonds.

Beijing and Tokyo have publicly called on the White House and Congress to resolve the dispute, which could threaten a U.S. debt default as soon as next week, and Asia's two biggest economies are privately urging Washington to find a solution.

Tokyo urged the Americans to hammer out a deal to increase the debt ceiling or risk a default that could plunge financial markets into turmoil, the newspaper said on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday said it was necessary to bear in mind the threat that the fiscal standoff posed to the value of U.S. bonds.

Similarly, Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said on Monday that Beijing had been in touch with Washington over the standoff, in which House Republicans have refused to increase the debt ceiling as they seek changes in President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law.

The standoff is in its second week, with much of the U.S. federal government closed and no signs of a breakthrough, although some glimmers of hope emerged on Monday as Obama said he would accept a short-term increase in the nation's borrowing authority to avoid a default.

The world's biggest debtor and creditors are caught in a delicate balance that neither wants to disturb. As at July 31, China held $1.28 trillion in U.S. Treasury bonds and Japan held $1.14 trillion, according to Treasury Department data.

The last big confrontation over the debt ceiling, in August 2011, ended with an 11th-hour agreement under pressure from shaken markets and warnings of an economic catastrophe if a default were allowed to happen.

China is "naturally concerned about developments in the U.S. fiscal cliff," Zhu told reporters, saying it was Washington's "responsibility" to avoid a debt crisis and ensure the safety of Chinese investments.

Japan has previously expressed its concerns in diplomatic terms. Aso and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga both said last week that the fiscal standoff was essentially a U.S. domestic problem.

But Aso added the shutdown could push up the yen against the dollar -- a concern for Japan's export-reliant economy, which has benefited from a yen decline since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won election in December on a reflationist policy platform.

Should the U.S. default on its debt, which the Treasury Department says could happen as soon as October 17, "there would be a large international impact," Aso said last week. "If there is no prompt resolution, various impacts will emerge."

The yen has been rising this month as investors shed risk and seek the perceived safe haven of the Japanese currency. The dollar slipped on Tuesday to a two-month low of 96.55 yen.

(Additional reporting by Richard Cowan, Mark Felsenthal, Aaron Sheldrick and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by William Mallard; Editing by John Mair)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that he wants the United States to resolve its debt ceiling standoff without delay so his country's foreign reserves and the global economy could be spared from trouble.

The absolute value of U.S. bonds held by the Japanese government could decline if the situation remains unresolved, Aso told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The finance minister added that he had received no explanation from the U.S. government regarding the fiscal standoff.

(Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Shinichi Saoshiro)

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THE country's very own green film festival is back for the sixth time this year and will feature a myriad of international and local award-winning environment-themed films.

Touted as one of the biggest environmental film festivals in Malaysia, this year's Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival (KLEFF) will be held at MAP Publika, Solaris Dutamas, from Oct 11 to 13.

In its previous instalments, the festival – a project initiated by non-profit organisation EcoKnights – has reached out to over 46,000 Malaysians through its film screenings at selected venues all over the peninsular.

When it first kicked off, the festival was intended as a tool to build a nation of ecologically-conscious businesses, individuals and communities through on-ground activities and film screenings on critical environmental issues. These days though, KLEFF has elevated to greater heights thanks to the extensive support from the community.

"What started as a small project to challenge Malaysians to document environmental issues and concerns in the country has evolved to an international platform where Malaysians and filmmakers combine forces to champion environmental concerns," says festival director Yasmin Rasyid.

Throughout the years, the KLEFF has managed to cultivate an audience that is more conscious about the environmental issues surrounding them. Yasmin commented that she's witnessed a transition of mindsets in how Malaysians view their immediate environment.

"We have seen an insurgence of a very young and collective movement of environmentalists. For once, the KLEFF audience now wants to know what they can do immediately as remedy to the current desecrated state of environment," she says.

Throughout the festival period this year, six official selections, two feature films, 12 documentaries, 12 short films, eight animations and three public service announcements (PSA) representing over 22 countries will be screened.

"This year's programme offers unique insights into the planet's challenges in dealing with intensive man-made activities. The films will offer festival-goers new experiences, both in the subject matter, and the way the filmmakers tell their stories," says Yasmin.

The festival will be honouring the films in eight categories, namely Best Film, Best International Documentary, Best Malaysian Documentary, Best International Short Film, Best Malaysian Short Film, Best Animation, Best PSA and Jury Award.

One of the official selection films to be screened is A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle For A Living Planet. Written and directed by Mark Kitchell, the film is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement spanning 50 years from conservation to climate change.

Another notable film is Pandora's Promise, a production by Academy Award-nominated director Robert Stone on the subject of nuclear power.

An audience favourite at the Sundance Film Festival, Pandora's Promise poses the question on whether the technology we fear the most could save our planet from a climate catastrophe. While film screenings make up the gist of the festival, it also serves as a platform for the creative and gifted to showcase their artistic contribution to the environment.

The three-day event will also feature musical performances by local artistes, an eco-fashion show, environment-themed community workshops, talks and forums as well as an exhibition at the Boulevard, Publika.

THE British actor is reportedly in talks to star in the biopic of the Queen frontman, according to Latino Review.

Following Sacha Baron Cohen's departure from the project last summer, producers on the Freddie Mercury biopic continue their search for a new leading man. A rumour last month suggested that Daniel Radcliffe would portray the rock star, who died in 1991, but speculation was quickly cut short by Radcliffe himself.

Dominic Cooper is the latest name to enter the rumour mill. Propelled to fame by Mamma Mia!, the actor is better known today for his portrayal of Iron Man's father in Captain America.

No official reports have confirmed his involvement in the Freddie Mercury project for the time being, but rumours continue to swirl. If he is tapped for the role, producers will need approval of this casting choice from the surviving members of Queen. – AFP Relaxnews

Law & Order star to be part of international cast for film on the Brazilian football legend.

THE American actor who portrayed Detective Robert Goren for a decade on Law & Order: Criminal Intent has landed a role in the forthcoming film on the famous Brazilian soccer player.

The biopic will focus on the legendary footballer's formative years, leading up to his first World Cup in Sweden in 1958, when the athlete was just 17.

Vincent D'Onofrio will portray Vincente Feola, the coach who led the Brazilian team to its first World Cup.

The cast of the feature is nearly as international as the iconic athlete's fan base. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro (Jane Got A Gun) will take on an as-yet-unspecified role, while Mexican star Diego Boneta (Rock Forever) will play one of the main rivals faced by Pele in his early career. Colm Meaney, hailing from Ireland, will portray George Raynor, manager of the 1958 World Cup team, and Brazilian singer Seu Jorge will play the title character's father.

Pele, meanwhile, will be played by two young newcomers: Kevin de Paula – as Pele from ages 13 to 17 – and Leonardo Lima Carvalho as the 10-year-old future champion.

The film dedicated to the life story of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname, Pele, will be directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist, who also authored the screenplay.

Shooting is slated to begin in Brazil, and the film is expected to premiere in the summer of 2014, when Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup. – AFP Relaxnews

KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd is considering its options to assemble hybrid vehicles in Malaysia, depending on the incentives given by the authorities.

Deputy chairman Datuk Takashi Hibi said the company planned to introduce the Toyota Camry Hybrid as the new completely knocked down (CKD) model to be assembled locally.

However, whether the company would introduce it or not would depend on the incentives in the revised National Automotive Policy, expected to be announced soon.

"The Camry Hybrid could be priced higher than the conventional Camry with the 2.5 litre petrol engine, but we recognise the needs of our customers that are more environmentally concerned, that is why we are planning to introduce the hybrid variant," he said at the launch of the Lexus ES yesterday.

This is the first time UMW Toyota Motor has expressed its intention to assemble hybrid vehicles locally after its competitor, Honda Malaysia, started assembling the Honda Jazz hybrid.

Hibi said the Camry was a feasible model due to its high localisation rate, compared with the Prius, a standalone model with limited production and sales volume.

The company expects the Camry Hybrid CKD assembly line to be ready by the middle or third quarter of next year.

Currently, UMW Toyota assembles the Avanza, Vios and the Camry at its plant in Shah Alam.

As a yardstick, it will only be economical for car manufacturers to embark on CKD assembly when annual demand exceeds 10,000 units for each model.

Meanwhile, president Datuk Ismet Suki said the company expected the newly-launched Lexus ES model to command 40% of its overall Lexus sales in Malaysia next year.

"The new ES bridges the gap between the sporty Lexus IS and the Lexus GS executive sedan by offering an immaculately-crafted interior, spaciousness and comfort," he said. "We have sold about 800 units of Lexus year to date, and are on track to hit our sales target of 1,300 units this year. Next year we are targeting to sell 1,600 units of Lexus."

He said sales this year have been affected as buyers took a wait-and-see approach during the general election period. In 2012, the company sold 1,471 Lexus vehicles.

The new Lexus ES is available in two petrol variants and one hybrid version and is priced from RM259,800 onwards.

Last week, IOI Corp had announced that its unit, IOI Plantation Sdn Bhd, would be acquiring Unico-Desa at an RM1bil price tag. The company had triggered a mandatory general offer after having acquired almost 40% of Unico-Desa from companies and parties linked to Unico-Desa's major shareholder Teoh Hock Chai for RM396.63mil.

Analysts had viewed the acquisition in a different light, saying that the deal was synergistic. PublicInvest Research said the acquisition could enhance IOI Corp's economies-of-scale and productivity at its plantations in Kinabatangan and Lahad Datu, given its close proximity to Unico-Desa's major plantation.

Analysts added that the price was in line with market values and justified, taking into account the scarcity of land.

As at end-June, IOI Corp's cash and cash equivalents stood at RM2.9bil. The company also expects to receive RM1.6bil from the proposed demerger of its property businesses. It intends to fund the acquisition via internally generated funds and/or borrowings.

"The cash consideration for the Unico-Desa acquisition would likely push IOI Corp's net debt per earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) ratio beyond our downward rating trigger of 1.5 times by the end of the fiscal year ending June 2014 after deconsolidating the Ebitda of its property business," said Moody's in a statement.

This is contrary to what the rating agency had expected, as the company would need to keep more cash on hand for the redemption of its US$500mil (RM1.6bil) US dollar-denominated notes in March 2015.

It added that following the disposal of the property businesses, IOI Corp's large cash balance was a key rating driver because it would keep the majority of the existing group debt.

However, IOI Corp would be operating with a smaller income and asset base, resulting in a higher gross debt leverage of 4.1 times in 2013, compared to 3.5 times in 2012, as well as a weaker Ebitda interest coverage of 6.4 times.

"The company is also left with reduced business diversity and is wholly exposed to the cyclicality of crude palm oil (CPO) prices. Furthermore, the proposed purchase price of Unico-Desa works out to about RM79,000 per ha, which equates to approximately seven years' worth of sales at a CPO price of US$700 (RM2,231) per tonne," it said.

Analysts said the acquisition would help increase IOI Corp's total fresh fruit bunches production by 6% to 7%.

"Consequently, IOI Corp's plantation output remains well below its CPO refining capacity and the company would continue to need significant amounts of bought-in CPO to feed its downstream activities," said Moody's.

PETALING JAYA: Since late last week, three Singapore-listed stocks with Malaysian major shareholders have plunged for reasons still unclear, thrusting their operations, the Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX) and Malaysian owners, who have seen a significant portion of their wealth being wiped out, into the limelight.

At yesterday's close, Blumont Group Ltd and Asiasons Capital Ltd, whose stocks remain designated, were 93.5% and 94.4% down since last Friday. This means that a total of S$4.88bil (RM12.47bil) and S$2.5bil (RM6.39bil) of their respective market capitalisation had been wiped out over that period.

Blumont and Asiasons closed the day at 13 cents and 15 cents, respectively.

Meanwhile, Blumont said in a statement that Alex Molyneux, together with Pacific Advisers Pte Ltd had acquired some 135 million Blumont shares for 40 Singapore cents (RM1.04), representing 5.2% of the company's total outstanding shares.

Consequently, Molyneux, who is a seasoned natural resources industry entrepreneur, executive and investor, agreed to join Blumont as chairman.

He also holds directorships with Ivanhoe Energy and Goldrock Mines. Molyneux is also chairman of Celsius Coal and Azarga Resources.

Blumont is also calling for a press conference today in Singapore to address issues surrounding its stock selldown.

Following the stock designation on Oct 4, Blumont and Asiasons resumed trading yesterday.

The third stock affected is LionGold Corp Ltd, the gold miner in which Asiasons is the single largest shareholder.

Following its designation and suspension from trading last Friday, LionGold's trading was halted yesterday morning, but resumed trading at 2:45pm yesterday.

In the last two trading days, LionGold shaved off S$1.18bil (RM3.02bil) in its market capitalisation to close at 25 Singapore cents yesterday.

The SGX had declared Blumont, Asiasons and LionGold as designated securities last Friday. The exact basis for such a move is still not clear, but SGX officials have pointed to its rules, which state that the exchange can designate a security "if, in its opinion, there has been manipulation of the security, excessive speculation in the security, or it is otherwise desirable in the interests of markets established or operated by SGX".

The conditions of this designation are that investors have to pay in cash for the stocks and that short selling, which is allowed in Singapore, is not allowed for these stocks.

Asiasons is controlled by Datuk Mohamed Azlan Hashim and Datuk Jared Lim, with a combined 49.3% or 483 million shares. Azlan also directly owns 14.7% or 144 million shares via his own name.

Last month, Asiasons had bought a stake in United States-based oil and gas producer Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC.

Blumont counts its executive chairman Neo Kim Hock as its single largest shareholder, with a 9.67% stake.

Clearwater Development Sdn Bhd is the second-largest shareholder, with a 6.97% stake or 180 million shares. The founder of Clearwater is Dian Lee, the wife of Lim.

Asiasons, in turn, has an 8.72% stake in LionGold. Media reports have said that the stocks have suffered severe attacks by short sellers.

Bloomberg reported that trading was suspended to "safeguard the interests of the markets, as there could be circumstances that would result in the market not being fully informed", according to a statement from the bourse.

"The concern is that short sellers are taking advantage of the weak market sentiment," Kelly Teoh, a strategist at IG Markets in Singapore, said by telephone, the Bloomberg report stated.

Blumont had soared more than 1,112% this year through the end of September to lead gains in Singapore.

In reply, the company said this week it had held talks with 20 potential takeover targets or joint-venture partners since December.

The company sees an "unprecedented opportunity resulting from the recent severe impairment of asset prices in the mineral resources sector", Blumont said in an Oct 2 statement.

Last month, Blumont had agreed to invest A$116mil (RM348mil) in Australia's Discovery Metals Ltd in a deal that could give it control of the copper producer.

Still, the move by SGX to designate the stock has garnered some controversy with investors who are claiming that issues of valuation were best left to the market to decide.

"Unless there's proof of manipulation, it does seem rather odd that the exchange had dived in suddenly to designate these stocks, after so late in their meteoric rises," one investor said.

Asiasons Capital Group is an alternative asset investment and management group focused on opportunities in South-East Asia.

LionGold is a gold company with primary concessions in Australia, Ghana and Bolivia. Based on its website, the acquisition of a Canadian gold miner was now pending.

Blumont, meanwhile, invests in minerals and energy.

In a press release to the SGX yesterday in response to the trading activities of the company, LionGold stated that it was at an advanced stage of negotiations with Minera IRL Ltd.

"The company wishes to reiterate that no formal agreement has been executed in connection with the acquisition yet.

"In view of the suspension of trading of the shares of the company, Minera is considering whether the acquisition should proceed.

"There is no assurance or certainty that the acquisition will proceed; and there is no obligation on the part of the company to make the possible offer," it said.

THE British actor is reportedly in talks to star in the biopic of the Queen frontman, according to Latino Review.

Following Sacha Baron Cohen's departure from the project last summer, producers on the Freddie Mercury biopic continue their search for a new leading man. A rumour last month suggested that Daniel Radcliffe would portray the rock star, who died in 1991, but speculation was quickly cut short by Radcliffe himself.

Dominic Cooper is the latest name to enter the rumour mill. Propelled to fame by Mamma Mia!, the actor is better known today for his portrayal of Iron Man's father in Captain America.

No official reports have confirmed his involvement in the Freddie Mercury project for the time being, but rumours continue to swirl. If he is tapped for the role, producers will need approval of this casting choice from the surviving members of Queen. – AFP Relaxnews

Law & Order star to be part of international cast for film on the Brazilian football legend.

THE American actor who portrayed Detective Robert Goren for a decade on Law & Order: Criminal Intent has landed a role in the forthcoming film on the famous Brazilian soccer player.

The biopic will focus on the legendary footballer's formative years, leading up to his first World Cup in Sweden in 1958, when the athlete was just 17.

Vincent D'Onofrio will portray Vincente Feola, the coach who led the Brazilian team to its first World Cup.

The cast of the feature is nearly as international as the iconic athlete's fan base. Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro (Jane Got A Gun) will take on an as-yet-unspecified role, while Mexican star Diego Boneta (Rock Forever) will play one of the main rivals faced by Pele in his early career. Colm Meaney, hailing from Ireland, will portray George Raynor, manager of the 1958 World Cup team, and Brazilian singer Seu Jorge will play the title character's father.

Pele, meanwhile, will be played by two young newcomers: Kevin de Paula – as Pele from ages 13 to 17 – and Leonardo Lima Carvalho as the 10-year-old future champion.

The film dedicated to the life story of Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname, Pele, will be directed by brothers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist, who also authored the screenplay.

Shooting is slated to begin in Brazil, and the film is expected to premiere in the summer of 2014, when Brazil is scheduled to host the World Cup. – AFP Relaxnews

"Pakatan Rakyat strongly opposes GST and will try to stop it from being passed in Parliament. Now is not the time to impose GST as it will heavily burden the rakyat. If the Government still wants to carry on with it, we will organise nationwide protests," said Anwar, adding that the Federal Government wanted to impose GST because it was running short of funds, which he claimed was proven in the recent Auditor-General's Report.

"GST will only increase dissatisfaction and take a toll on the rakyat," he said after a walkabout at the Seberang Jaya market yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is still in need of more than 5,000 dentists in order to achieve the desired ratio.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said currently the country has 4,558 dentists and of that figure 58% of them were serving at government hospitals and clinics.

"The current ratio is one dentist to 6,436 residents," Dr Subramaniam said, adding the ministry hoped to achieve the target of 1:3,000 by 2020.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry has been working closely with universities to increase the intake of dentistry students.

He said last year saw the graduation of 315 dentistry students and the number increased to 815 this year.

"And we are expecting the passing out of another 1,100 students next year," he said at the "My Teeth My Pearl" Oral Health Carnival officiated by the Prime Minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at a shopping mall here yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry has also launched the oral health programme at 874 kindergartens, involving 17,722 children, last year.

He said there were a total of 50 dental clinics and a mobile dental unit in the country. Apart from this, dental departments have also been set up at 929 schools, 570 health clinics and 65 hospitals.

Rosmah said oral healthcare needed to begin when the child was still in the mother's womb.

According to research conducted in 2005, she said, some 76.2% children have dental caries problem and each child has an average of six cavities.

"This problem is worrying, but it can be prevented by taking care of oral health from infancy," she added.

JOHOR BARU: Home buyers are still leaning towards high-rise properties compared to landed units as security is their main concern when purchasing a house.

IJM Land Bhd general manager (southern region) Tham Huen Cheong said high-rise apartments usually provide a three-tier security system, which makes them more popular with buyers.

"In the minds of buyers, their main concern is security, which ranks above factors like location, price and comfort," Tham told The Star when met at the launch of Epic@Iskandar Malaysia residential towers at Taman Suria Muafakat yesterday.

Tham added that when the buyers decide to buy landed properties, they tend to prefer gated and guarded housing developments for the same reason.

He said that interest in high-rise apartments was apparent as more than 50% of units of its first wing have been snapped up since last month.

"Most of the buyers are locals as well as Malaysians working in Singapore.

"It is easy for them to commute to the republic as it is just 10 minutes to the Causeway," he said.

The development, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM435mil, is made up of two 25-storey residential towers consisting of 528 units – 287 units in Wing A and 241 units in Wing B.

Tham said Wing A is slated for completion by October 2016, and has five layouts starting from 51 sq m to 230 sq m, with prices starting from RM460,800 all the way up to RM1.8mil.

Sick of staring at a stark, empty wall? Check out Project Room's General Hanging.

A GENERAL hanging usually refers to a casual collection of art pieces, something of a cool down between more elaborate exhibitions.

But in Project Room Fine Art gallery's ongoing showing, the gallery decided to make a theme of General Hanging, going as far as creating a site specific installation and art work in response to the theme.

Visiting his friend who was then based in London, Roslisham chanced upon why Hasanul collected vinyl: to create pieces that ran riot with the already kitschy record covers.

"I don't specifically go for a certain artiste or genre, but older covers tend to be funnier. Everything from the fonts used to the musician's fashion, song titles and hairstyles," reveals Hasanul.

He grew his habit, and collection, of vinyls when he moved to London to be with his wife Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi who was studying there.

Pieces from Roslisham Ismail's Portrait collection, a series of collages in fake gold frames, make up one of the four collections on display as part of General Hanging exhibit at the Project Room art gallery.

Hasanul calls these re-imaginings "interventions", where he would intervene the original meaning of an album cover by introducing new elements.

The artist's equally talented wife Tetriana also has a collection in General Hanging exhibition, a pair of pictures of her sculptures Beautiful Skeleton and Illegal Skeleton.

While Tetriana used photos to preserve the setting of her sculpture, fellow exhibitor Yap Sau Bin's installation A Closer Look At The Illusion Of The Whole Phantom was made to fit to the Project Room gallery's space.

Yap explains that he started with the idea of re-using old works in the context of a new space, but had no idea how it would look like or even the scope of the installation, until he visited the gallery in person.

Explaining the work, Yap expounded "How much of the work is the canvas, what about the frame; is the space of the work part of it?"